Voting-machine.



PATENTED NOV. 7, 1965.

A. A. FARWELL,

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED oo'r. 22,1904.

MW Mm,

witness M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED A. FARlVELL, OF OSHAVVA, CANADA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Original application filed December 9, 1903, Serial No. 184,444. Divided and this application filed October 22, 1904. Serial No. 229,650.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This present application is a division of application, Serial No. 184,444, filed December 9, 1903.

The object of this portion of my invention is to devise a reliable voting machine by means of which the voter may vote for other candidates than those nominated; and it consists, essentially, of the'construction hereinafter described and then definitely claimed.

The drawing is a perspective view of the device.

A is a portion of the frame of the apparatus, only a suflicient portion of this being shown to illustrate the method of supporting the parts of the present device.

The push-bar D is supported on suitable cross-bars of the frame of the machine and is held in place by means of pins or screws (1, working through slots in the push-bars, the length of the slots limiting the longitudinal motion of the push-bars. The rock-bar S is provided with an arm '1', passing through a slot in the bar. By rocking this bar the pushbar D may be returned to its normal position. The method of rocking this push-bar being no part of the present invention is not herein illustrated or described.

The rear end of the push-bar is provided with ratchet-teeth engaged by the spring-actuated pawl K, pivoted on the frame of the machine. Thus when the push-bar is pressed home it is caught and held by the pawl until released, as hereinafter described. This prevents the voter after moving the push-bar D to enable him to record his vote from afterward withdrawing the push-bar and then recording a second vote. This pawl after the registration of the vote is released by means of the pin 25, secured to the slide U, suitably guided on the frame of the machine. The

method of operating this slide forms no part of the present invention and is fully described in the original application.

The lock-bar E, carrying the locking-pin 0, adapted to engage a notch in the side of the push-bar, is also fully described in the original application; but as the means employed for operating it have nothing to do with the present invention they are not herein shown or described.

Connected to the push-bar D is a bracket 0, carrying a pin engaging a diagonal slot (Z, formed in the arm E, pivoted at c on the frame of the machine. The front end of this arm carries a guard F, normally closing an opening in the front casing of the machine. Behind this guard passes a ribbon or paper G. wound on the spools f r journaled on the frame of the machine. The upper spool may be provided with any suitable mechanism to prevent its too rapid rotation. Such devices are common, the one illustrated consisting of a small flat bent spring 917., secured with a screw a to the near side of the frame carrying the two rolls for the paper, the end of the said spring pressing against one end 0 of the spindle of the upper roll. The lower spool has a ratchetwheel H,fast on its spindle. \Vith this ratchetwheel is engaged a pawl I, pivoted on the pushbar D. I also provide a spring-retaining pawl Z, also engaging the ratchet-wheel. From this construction it follows that as the push-bar is pressed home the guard F is raised and the voter may inscribe the name of his candidate on the ribbon of paper, a platen it lying behind the ribbon at this point to give the desired support. hen the push-bar is released and returned to its normal position by the operation of the rock-bar S, the pawl 1 moves the ratchet-wheel H and shifts the paperribbon for the next voter who may desire to use it.

From the construction described it will be seen that I have devised very simple and effective means for permitting the registration of votes for parties not regularly nominated.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a voting-machine aplaten; a ribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard movable in front of and away from the said platen; a push-baradapted when pressed in to move the guard to uncover the platen and when out to cover it; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the locking means; a rock-bar; means operated by the bar for returning the push-bar to its normal position; and means for rotating one of the spools while the push-bar is moving, substantially as described.

2. In avoting-machine a platen; a ribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard; an arm carrying the guard at one end and pivoted at the other on the frame of the machine, a diagonal slot being formed in the arm; a push-bar; a pin suitably connected to the push-bar and engaging the said slot whereby the guard is moved to uncover the platen when the push-bar is pressed in and is moved to cover the platen when the push-bar is at normal; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the push-bar and for returning it to its normal position; and means for rotating one of the spools while the push-bar is moving, substantially as described.

3. In a voting-machine a platen; a ribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard movable in front of and away from the said platen; a push-bar adapted when pressed in to move the guard to uncover the platen and when out to cover it; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the push-bar and for returning it to its normal position; a ratchetwheel connected with one of the spools; and a pawl pivoted on the push-bar and engaging the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

4. In a voting-machine a platen; a ribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard movable in front of and away from the said platen; a push-bar adapted when pressed in to move the guard to uncover the platen and when out to cover it; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the push-bar and for returning it to its normal position; a ratchetwheel connected with one of the spools; a pawl pivoted on the push-bar and engaging the ratchet-wheel; and a spring-actuated retaining-pawl pivoted on the frame and engaging the said ratchet, substantially as described.

5. Ina voting-machine a platen; a ribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard movable in front of and away from the said platen; a push-bar adapted when pressed in to move the guard to uncover the platen and when out to cover it; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the push-bar and for returning it to its normal position; a ratchetwheel connected with one of the spools; a pawl pivoted on the push bar and engaging the ratchet-wheel; a spring-actuated retainingpawl pivoted on the frame and engaging the said ratchet-wheel; and a friction-brake for the other spool, substantially as described.

6. In avoting-machine a platen; aribbon of paper passing over said platen; spools on which the said ribbon is wound, in combination with a guard; an arm carrying the guard at one end and pivoted at the other on the frame of the machine, a diagonal slot being formed in the arm; a push-bar; a pin suitably connected to the push-bar and engaging the said slot whereby the guard is moved to uncover the platen when the push-bar is pressed in and is moved to cover the platen when the push-bar is at normal; means for locking the push-bar when pressed in; means for releasing the push-bar and for returning it to its normal position; a ratchet-wheel connected with one of the spools; a pawl pivoted on the push-bar and engaging the ratchet-wheel; and a spring-actuated retaining-pawl pivoted on the frame and engaging the said ratchet-w heel, substantially as described.

October 4, 1904:.

ALFRED A. FARWVELL.

In presence of- J. EDW. MAYBEE, JOHN G. RIDoU'r. 

